There are certain things every player strives to do regardless of surface or the ambient conditions. Putting an acceptable percentage of first serves into play, even on slow clay, probably ranks as the first commandment of winning tennis.
But every surface and tournament is different, and tends to put a premium on different elements of the game, both strategically and mentally. Back when the Australian Open was played on somewhat gummy Rebound Ace, footwork was at a premium, as was the ability to use the relatively high bounce yielded by the surface to good advantage.
Now the tournament is played on Plexicushion, a distant cousin to Rebound Ace. The creators of the surface had to walk a fine line between providing the desired “cushioning” while avoiding the tackiness for which Rebound Ace had been notorious—a basic problem compounded by the intensity of the Australian summer sun. They achieved their goal by putting the cushioning layer beneath the fairly thin Pleixpave playing surface, rather than making the spongy material the top layer.
Granted, there’s only so much you can do to tweak your game to the surface, but let’s a look at five general keys to success at the first major of the year.
- MANAGE YOUR GAME
With the likelihood of significant heat and (for the men) five-set matches, there’s a greater premium at this major on making wise choices during the course of a match. Failing to close out sets or frittering away big leads—even if you still win—amount to begging for trouble, which is why the most successful competitors in Australia have been the ones who get on and off the court as quickly as possible.
Loose or overly casual play doesn’t just leave you expending more energy you may need down the road, it also fires up your opponent, and can very easily lead to the tables turning. Given what Mardy Fish has been going through lately, this example may be somewhat awkward, but who can forget how casually he played against No. 50 Victor Hanescu in the first round of the 2011 tournament? Fish dropped the first two sets but survived in five—only to be beaten easily by No. 52 Tommy Robredo in the next round in four sets.